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First HB1AC results

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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
J

Jo121

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Diagnosed end of April and just got my first results. Were 75 on diagnosis with type 2 and now 37.

I know I should be happy with this but I feel like it should be lower and I'm also finding little treats slipping in which I know will affect my next set of bloods.

The doctors said I wouldn't get to speak to anyone but I want to know if I can/should try and reduce metformin - I'm on 3 a day, if I should continue to lose weight (I'm now very skinny but could lose another few lb to get to bottom of normal bmi), and how I'm going to maintain these levels.

I feel I've achieved a good lifestyle change but was very strict in the beginning and now more moderation is creeping in I'm worried my next bloods will be higher. Hate all this uncertainty. How do we live and maintain good HB1ac results? My doctors has said ill only get this checked annually going forwards which will not help my anxiety
 
Jo121 said:
Diagnosed end of April and just got my first results. Were 75 on diagnosis with type 2 and now 37.

I know I should be happy with this but I feel like it should be lower and I'm also finding little treats slipping in which I know will affect my next set of bloods.

The doctors said I wouldn't get to speak to anyone but I want to know if I can/should try and reduce metformin - I'm on 3 a day, if I should continue to lose weight (I'm now very skinny but could lose another few lb to get to bottom of normal bmi), and how I'm going to maintain these levels.

I feel I've achieved a good lifestyle change but was very strict in the beginning and now more moderation is creeping in I'm worried my next bloods will be higher. Hate all this uncertainty. How do we live and maintain good HB1ac results? My doctors has said ill only get this checked annually going forwards which will not help my anxiety
Click to expand...
That is a fantastic achievement in 4 months and you are now in the normal range. As you might well question were do I go from here, as being in remission or reversal is to maintain normal level without medication.
There are some people on here who have managed to come off the metformin and by maintaining good eating regime keep their levels normal, others have done it without being on medication in the first place and managed to get normal levels by diet alone.
It would certainly be something you should discuss with your GP/nurse before making any decision. However if you home monitor your glucose levels you could be more confident of being able to keep your levels normal and take action if the lifestyle changes slip.
 
If your down to yearly checks then doctor must be happy with your progress and so he should be you have done amazing in a few months! Now you move on to maintaining. At 37 you have some wiggle room, so although its a good idea to stick to your new life style as much as possible, the odd little treat won’t make a huge difference I’m sure. If you really struggle to wait a year for updated hba1c then there are many companies that do private ones in the interim that arnt too expensive. Honestly you should be so proud of yourself xx
 
Hi Jo121, I must say that I think you've done a fantastic job!

It's actually better to reduce the numbers at a sensible pace like you've done as a sharp reduction can cause issues with things like your sight.

Diabetes is a journey and it's fine to have a treat every now and then. The good thing is that you can take action to balance out the impact so you might choose to bake treats from scratch using ingredients that don't spike your blood sugar or make sure you go for a nice walk and drink plenty of water.

You've come so far and done so well, adjusting to your new normal is part of the process and we're right here beside you to offer support should you need it.
 
Happy for your good results, and that your in 'remission', although it doesn't mean your cured of diabetes, none of us ever are, but it does mean you can indulge in little treats, now and then.
Sorry if that's a downer, but diabetes isn't a life long friend, certainly should be struck of the Christmas card list, but you probably can come of the dreaded 'metfartin' ,which is something to celebrate.
 
Thanks all I just feel so strange. I know its a great achievement but I feel very flat because I just have more questions. I'm happy to keep the lifestyle but I do worry about how difficult it will be to maintain especially if I lower or come off metformin.
 
Does your GP practise have a Diabetes Nurse (DN) you can speak to in the meantime? I don't get to speak to my GP any more, but I am contacted quarterly by a DN. Normally it would be 6 monthly, but I'm still trying to get the medication right. I actually wrote to the practise about my medication, they set up a phone consult, and my medication was changed. It's worth a try in your case - you won't be any worse off.
 
@Jo121 - huge congrats - you have done amazingly well.

My aim was to get off the Metformin asap (well I am on Sukkarto instead now) but I've seen lots of posts where people have said that Metformin is good for your heart so I am not panicking as much as I was to get off it.

If I manage to get to normal levels I would re-introduce higher carb items eg a baguette or pasta but have them as a treat either once a week or a couple of times a month and I wouldn't check my bg levels as much as I am just now.

Congrats again.
 
In a way I envy you Jo 121, to have done so well in a short time, ultimately it's down to you if you keep your levels down ,and off the med's.
They won't let you off so easy the medics that is, they will want you to show you can maintain your bloods before signing you off, but will want to monitor your progress,that means tickle your toes, and shining bright lights in your eyes and regular Vampire visits for blood tests..
Hoping for the best for you ,but it means you have to watch your diet just as much in the future as you do now, except that you can have those treats without the guilt!
Thumbs up!
 
Felinia said:
Does your GP practise have a Diabetes Nurse (DN) you can speak to in the meantime? I don't get to speak to my GP any more, but I am contacted quarterly by a DN. Normally it would be 6 monthly, but I'm still trying to get the medication right. I actually wrote to the practise about my medication, they set up a phone consult, and my medication was changed. It's worth a try in your case - you won't be any worse off.
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They do and I expected her to call me after my results if I'm honest as I have had really bad anxiety caused by the diabetes which she is aware of and she has always known I want to discuss next steps. I'm going to try and get a phone apt with her
 
Grldtnr said:
In a way I envy you Jo 121, to have done so well in a short time, ultimately it's down to you if you keep your levels down ,and off the med's.
They won't let you off so easy the medics that is, they will want you to show you can maintain your bloods before signing you off, but will want to monitor your progress,that means tickle your toes, and shining bright lights in your eyes and regular Vampire visits for blood tests..
Hoping for the best for you ,but it means you have to watch your diet just as much in the future as you do now, except that you can have those treats without the guilt!
Thumbs up!
Click to expand...
Yes I very much will be watching my diet I want to keep my levels down. I'm on 3 metfotmin a day so quite a high dose so I'm fairly sure the results have been caused by this rather than my hard work. I'm just hoping I can reduce them a little and still have good results. My aim now is to lose another 5lb and then maintain that weight as ill be at the lowest end of the healthy bmi at that point and keep my diet up. I have the odd treat in moderation and I just need to ensure moderation doesn't become daily
 
If you are down to a healthy BMI and following a low carb diet, I think you are doing yourself a great injustice in thinking the Metformin is contributing to your fantastic achievement. Clinicians put a lot of emphasis on medication with diabetes because they have no idea of the power of dietary changes and/or weight loss, so your nurse will probably be reluctant to stop the medication, but you have a right to discuss your medication and negotiate a compromise or even stop altogether if you wish, although I would always recommend finding a compromise rather than going against a clinician's advice.
I would be surprised if stopping the Metformin made any difference at all but if you did reduce them and levels started to creep up, you could always go back to them again.

If you are not self testing then I would recommend doing so if you are concerned about maintenance and monitoring, especially if you go onto annual blood tests. As long as you adopt a sensible approach to it and don't get hung up on individual readings but look for trends over days and weeks and we can reassure you here on the forum if you have any specific concerns.
 
Do keep an eye on your surgery and reporting of results.
I had rock steady results for years, then last year my Hba1c went up and I was not told. It has now gone down again, but no one told me that either, it was just coincidental to my needing to see a GP about my over 70 driving licence and I could ask for them that I found out about the blip.
 
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